The Neurotic Wanderer

In having more transparency with those around me regarding mental health, and discovering so many people that I know suffer from or know someone who suffers from mental health issues, I have endeavored to uncover helpful resources in finding a better understanding of what people are experiencing. While, I cannot totally empathize with sufferers of mental health, I can empathize with the loved ones who try and take care of or support those who do suffer. It can be a hard journey, full of triumphs and pitfalls. I think a great first step for those who are newly experiencing, have suffered from chronic illness before, or are a supporter of, is literature. While, the internet is obviously a wonderful place to start, the amount of information out there can be overwhelming. And sometimes, it can get easy to “get lost” as you click from one site to the next. So with that in mind, here are some books that I have recently read that I have found tremendously helpful and one that I did not. ...

I had always been very lucky in that I had my family and friends, a steady job, and a pretty solid handle on who I was, and where I was going.   I knew that people struggled during the holidays, both financially and emotionally, but it was not something that I could totally empathize with. This year, that has all changed. We didn’t put up any decorations and there was no tree. When asked about what I was doing during this time, I answered with vague non-committal responses. Being the people pleaser that I am, I didn’t want to tell people the truth and have to explain why. I worried that I would in turn bring them down with me. So I plastered on my “mask”, what I now refer to as my make-up and held that saccharine smile. For the first time, I could really understand those who don’t like this time of year. We did bake some cookies and make some tamales, and tried to remember the fun times when we were all together. That for sure helped. Having some semblance of normalcy is a sor...

My brother is and always will be the coolest person that I know. I’m not even quite sure who I am without him telling me what’s cool or not. My brother was such a large presence wherever he went and everybody loved him. I have always been the more cynical between the two of us, but Manuel made me believe in people, because I believed in him. I am always inspired when I think about how he, as one person, has impacted so many lives. I think about all of his kids, because all of his students from the time he started teaching are his kids, and of how proud he is of all of them. He would come home everyday and tell me about their struggles and strife, good days and bad.   Wherever his kids ended up, he usually knew where they were and what they were doing and tried to stay in touch. Each student success, big or small, is a testament to what a phenomenal teacher and person that he was. I am glad to see the teachings of Manuel Chavez go forward and implant in the subsequent generations a...